Choker hook



June 28, 1932. J, A, BUCKLEY 1,864,974-

CHOKER HOOK Fild Sept. 50, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 1 -7- TERA/5)) June 28, 1932. J A, BUCKLEY CHOKER HOOK Filed Sept. 50, 19:51 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 x TTU /VEJ I Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE *J'OHN A. BUGKLEY, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF'TO MARGARET MARGHWICKE, OF LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN GHOKER HOOK Application filed September 30, 1931. Serial No. 566,183.

This invention relates generally to the logging industry and particularly to an improved form of choker hook having means whereby a log being transported can be automatically released by a pull on the haul-back line.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and highly efficient form of choker hook having an automatic release thereon for the purpose of reducing the amount of labor required in this operation, as well as the danger attending the performance of this labor.

I accomplish these objects in the manner set forth by the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the choker hook. Figure 2 is a side elevation. Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3--3 in Figure 1. Figure 4; is a horizontal section taken along the line t4 in Fig ure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pin-holding spring. Figure 6 is 'a vertical section through a modified form of the device showing the holding pin nearer the ferrule than is the case in Figure 2. Fig ure 7 is a still further modified form of the device in which the holding pin is directly opposite the ferrule. Figure 8 is a fragmentary section showing the preferred form of ferrule-engaging face for light lines. F igure 9 is a fragmentary section showing the preferred form of ferrule-engaging face for heavier lines. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the device rigged to a set of log-handling lines in a log hauling position. Figure 11 is a similar View just at the instant the choker is released. Figure 12 is a similar View but showing the choker completely released and the hook being returned to the woods.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the device consists of a somewhat tubular sleeve 14 from which projects arms 15 which are joined in pairs by the cross ties 16 provided with the opening 17 for the locking pin 18, one end of which is provided with an eye 19 and the other end of which is provided with a slot 20 into which is inserted the spring fastener 21, through whose coiled end 22 is passed a rivet 23. The ends 24 extend into a recess 25 in the cable 18. V

Between the cross ties 16 is formed a ferrule holder 26, whose face 27 may be straight, as shown in Figure 2, or sloped as is the face 28, in Figure 8, to improve its action in small lines, or sloped in the opposite direction as is the face 29, in Figure 9, to improve its use with heavier lines.

It will be understood that the device thus far described is employed in connection with suitable cable-winding mechanism (not shown) from which leads a haul-in line 30, whose duty it is to actually haul in the log from the woods. The line 30 has its end 31 passed through the sleeve 14 and then provided with a ferrule 32. To the bight of the line 30 is secured the end 33 of a haul-out line 34:, whose duty it is to carry the haul-in line back to the woods after the load is delivered, andthis lineis merely dragged along after the load when the log is being hauled in, at least in most cases, and the line34 has secured thereto a pin. pulling line 35 which is fastened to the eye 19 of the pin 18. a

The ferrule holder 26' is provided with a slot 36 large enough to freely admit the line 30, but not large enough to permit the ferrule 32 to pass therethrough. v

The operation of the device is as follows: The line 30 is passed around the log '37 and its end is laid in the slot 36, as shownin Figure 10, after which the hole 17 to keep the line 30 in position.

In Figure 10 is illustrated the log being hauled in, in which it willbe noted that the haul-in line 30 is tight and devoid of slack in the pin-pulling line 35. When the log 37 pin is pushed into the reaches its destination and it is desired to free the choker, a signal is given to the engineer who reverses the pull on the lines and causes the haul-out line 34 to be pulled out in the direction of the woods. This line 3%, of course, passes around a sheave and eventually returns to a drum on the operation engine, as is well understood.

When the line 3% becomes taut it causes a slight amount of slack to be formed in the haul-in line, as shown in Figure 11, and also causes the pin-pulling line 35 to withdraw the pin 18 after which the natural spring in the end of the haul-in line 30 causes it to fly out of its recess and to free the lock 37 as shown in Figure 12, after which both the choker hook itself and the pin-pulling line 35 are free to follow the haul-out line 34 to the woods.

While I have illustrated a spring 21 for the purpose of preventing the pin 18 from becoming accidentally dislodged it is obvious that there are numerous different ways in which this can be accomplished.

It will be also understood that the cross section of the pin 18 can be varied to suit the particular requirements for the hook being made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it may be made of flat stock so placed as to give the maximum amount of strength to resist any escape of the ferrule 32 from its holder.

I am aware that many forms of choker hooks have been constructed in the past in which the end of the line can be secured and released manually, I, therefore, do not claim such devices as broadly but intend to cover only such form of thedevice as fall fairly in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A choker hook consisting of a sleeve through which the end of a haul-in line can be slidably passed, a pair of laterally extending arms formed on said sleeve, a ferrule holder formed between said arms having a slot formed therein adapted to receive the end of said haul-in line, said ferrule holder having a hole formed therein parallel with the hole in said sleeve, a pin passing through said hole adapted to confine the end of said haul-in line in said slot and means for withdrawing said pin from said slot when said choker is hauled backwardly by said haul-out line.

2. A choker hook consisting of an elongated sleeve having a pair of spaced parallel arms projecting laterally therefrom and having a cross tie joining the outer ends of said arms said cross tie forming a shoulder adapted to engage a cable ferrule on one side thereof a pin removably mounted in said arms adapted to hold a ferrule in position against said shoulders and a spring retainer for said pin.

3. A choker hook consisting of an elongated sleeve through which a bight of a cable can pass, said sleeve having a pair of spaced arms projecting therefrom parallel to each other and normal to the axis said arms having across tie formed between the outer end thereof forming a socket adapted to receive the ferrule end of the cable, said socket having one open side and a pin removably 1nounted in said arms forming a closure for the open side of said socket whereby a pull exerted upon said cable shall be taken entirely by said socket and said in shall not sustain any portion of the load? JOHN A. BUCKLEY. 

